Healthcare Innovations • Sunday 26 July 2020
Specialist clinics • 45
Hearing loss: don’t suffer in silence
Consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon Mr Parikh explains how he can help patients with hearing issues
What patients often tell me is how they
took this special sense for
granted. Hearing gives our lives a third dimension; our eyes see but add to this the sense of hearing and everything comes alive. You can hear the birds, traffic, TV, music, friends, family and colleagues. In everyday life, we hear these sounds without giving it a second thought. Hearing loss can lead to problems
with simple things, like following a conversation in a restaurant, listening to a sermon, a play, hearing the tele- phone ring or partaking in a work meeting. Tis can result in a number of problems such as stress, anxiety,
isolation, loneliness and, if it isn’t managed, depression. Unfortunately, hearing loss affects
one in six adults in the UK. Te majority have an inner ear hearing loss that can be helped by an appro- priate hearing aid. However, there are a small number of individuals who have a middle ear (conductive) hearing loss where surgery is an option. Middle
ear hearing loss occurs
due to the ineffective transmis- sion of sound waves to the inner ear. Some conditions causing a persistent conductive hearing loss where surgery is an option are described below:
1. Glue ear Tis is a collection of fluid in the middle ear, behind an intact eardrum. It’s seen frequently in children. Usually the fluid dissipates over time; however, if it persists for more than three months, and the hearing loss impedes communication, a grommet can be inserted. A small cut is made in the eardrum, and the fluid is aspi- rated using suction. A grommet is then inserted through the cut.
3. Otosclerosis In otoslcerosis, movement of the third bone of the middle ear (stapes) is restricted, causing hearing loss. Over time it can affect both ears. Surgery is an option, and is called a stapedec- tomy. It involves removing part of the stapes, and replacing it with an arti- ficial prosthesis. Te success rate is about 90%, but the procedure carries a risk (2%) of developing deafness in the operated ear. Tis risk should be carefully considered before opting for surgery.
Hearing loss can lead to problems with simple things, like following a conversation in a restaurant, which in turn can lead to problems such as stress, anxiety, isolation, loneliness and, if it isn’t managed, depression
2. Cholesteatoma An abnormal accumulation of skin within the middle ear is called a cholesteatoma. As it grows, it erodes various important structures it comes in contact with. Erosion of the small bones in the middle ear causes hearing loss. Infection leads to a foul smelling discharge. Other impor- tant adjacent structures that can be affected include the nerve that moves the face muscles (facial nerve),
the
balance system, and brain coverings (meninges). Treatment for this condi- tion is surgical, and is called a mastoid exploration.
4. Ear drum perforation A perforated ear drum can cause hearing loss and infections, and is often caused by water getting trapped during showering or swimming. Successful surgery can help alleviate the hearing loss and ear infections. Patients can resume watersports following surgery. Te operation is called a myringoplasty and the success rate is approximately 90%.
London ENT Consultant, Office 39, MR PARIKH
61 Praed Street, London W2 1NS Ms Kjai Kanone T: 020 7224 2455 F: 020 7224 6177 E:
londonentconsultant@gmail.com
londonentconsultant.co.uk
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